• Saturday-What'sUP May 7 - 07:39 pm

Just about anywhere you travel in the Upper Peninsula you'll find works of art. In the surroundings to be sure - - but there are many artful points of interest scattered from the western end to the eastern end. A handful of these attractions caught my eye over in our ever-growing Pasty Gallery, since I'm partial to carving and whittling myself. Of course these works of art, courtesy of Ranger Rick Mayer are on a bigger scale than anything I've ever attempted. Nee-Gaw-Nee-Gaw-Bow (Leading Man), is a carving done by Peter Toth to honor the Chippewa Indians and located on the lakeside pier at the Wakefield Visitor's Center. The second shot is one more familiar as it's located on a major trunk-line to the Keweenaw on U.S. 41 between Baraga and L'Anse - - Bishop Baraga, sculpted by Jack Anderson and Art Chaput. Last but not least, there's 'Old Ish', a statue located in Ishpeming commemorating the town's Indian origin. The town name has an Indian meaning of 'high place' or 'heaven'. Which pretty much describes most of the U.P., in my opinion - - but then I'm a bit prejudice!

Edie and I will be driving past the good Bishop and Old Ish this afternoon, on our way from Eagle River to Marquette. This evening we'll be attending a special celebration for "Daughters of the American Revolution", the U.P. Chapter which was formed in Baraga. Tonight we'll be staying at the Landmark Inn in Marquette, a little extra Mother's Day treat for my own DAR.

This was another busy week at Pasty Central... hope everybody's pasties arrived in time for Mother's Day. You forgot to order? Well, make it up to her by planning ahead for a pasty picnic on Memorial Day - or any time in May for that matter.

Good morning from Maryland...glad to see the sun is out warming up the 38 degree water. Only 2 months and 20 days before we get to enjoy the 60 degree water(if we are lucky to get it that warm). Have a great weekend everyone.

Great shots of great images.

Where in Ishpeming is Old Ish? His clothes, especially the pants, look so real!

Old Ish is in downtown Ishpeming on Main Street.

Had my kids, when they were young touch bishop baragas eyes when his statue was laying down being made so yrs later they could tell there kids I touched his eyes

I remember when the Bishop of Baraga was first made. My teacher Mrs.Anderson, from the Mohawk Grade School took our class to see it. I believe her family member helped in making it. She was a great teacher.

Peter Toth carved a similar sculpture of an Indian which stood in a prominent place by the shore of a lake in Loveland Colorado. Then the local artist community deemed it unworthy of their high standards. It was moved to a field west of town along the road to Rocky Mtn. National Park where it will reside until it passes on to the Happy Hunting Grounds. I believe Mr. Toth wanted to carve an Indian sculpture in ever state. Not sure if he ever completed the task.

ISHPEMING- Where does this name come from--???

Looks like Old Ish needs to get winter clothes on-- what is the significance?????

Tennessee Guy: Ishpeming is from the Chippewa Indianas, and means "on the summit".

When my family and I first started coming to the Keeweenaw the "Bishop" was under construction in Lake Linden, in a building just as you turn on to the "Bootjack Road." As I remember, it took a couple of years or so to sculpt the entire statue and then transport it to its' site in at the head of Keeweenaw Bay in L'anse/Baraga. We fell under his spell, so to speak. The statue became a touch stone for us as we rushed towards our final destination on Rice Lake every summer.

We have stopped many times, over the years, to say hi to the Bishop and reflect over the memories of all the good times spent in his stomping grounds.

I say we "fell under his spell" as we will be moving permanently to the Keeweenaw in a few years!

The largest indian, "Hiawatha" in the UP is at Ironwood. It is located on the top if a hill just outside of the main business area. It has been redone last year and looks great.

Sharon: I can feel your disappointment in not being able to retreat to your home in Copper Harbor just yet. I didn't read the journal yesterday and almost didn't read it today, because I knew you probably wouldn't have an entry for Friday, so I didn't find out until today that your news from the doctor wasn't what you had hoped for. I am so sorry for that and hope that the answers lie in the new technology simply showing things that couldn't be seen before.

I've been reading your journal for two years and feel that I have come to know you personally. Having been a frequent visitor to Copper Harbor myself over the past 14 years, I know why you want to be there. Since my mother-in-law, Mary Ruppe Moffat, died in March, we may not have many more excursions to the north country (she lived in Calumet and the family has a cottage in Copper Harbor), so I will have to use your website to view the beauty of Copper Harbor.

Please know that we are all praying for you and hoping that you will soon be on your way home.

Thanks for the photo of Chief Ish! I'll be
seeing him in two weeks as I have a pizza at
the Congress when our family heads to the
U.P. for a long weekend of cleaning up the
cottage in time for the summer. I can hardly
wait.

Maybe there will be morels on the menu at the
Brownstone like there were last year. Hope
so. So far our morels (from a package) have
not surfaced here in Toronto.

Hello Charlie:

RE: "Daughters of the American Revolution". Isn't that a society of women who have an ancester that was an original signer of the Declaration of Independence? I hope you enjoy the festivities.

Did anyone else notice the Kabcam shot 6:46 AM(Sharon Smith's site)?
What a view.

Victor - contemplateing turning the computer off to go work in the garage.

Charlie--Interesting to find out Edie is in DAR. Many moons ago my grandmother Lillian O'Niell was Narional Regent of DAR.
JohnP

I remember when Bishop Baraga was constructed in lake linden, never have stoped at the site is is now due to fact that I had the best closeup view you could have and that was going past it on you way to bootjack in lake linden.

The name Ishpeming, is Indian in origin and means "heaven" or "high place". I've heard that there are quite a few of these statues scattered around the country. Our "Old Ish" had a face lift done a few years ago.

Beverly, San Jose...Daughters of the American Revolution are direct descendents of men who fought in the American Revolution. Lineage must be accurately documented, so it is a rather elite group! There are also Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and a Confederate counterpart. DUVCW membership must be by direct lineage also and documented.

I remember when they were installing the Bishop Baraga Statue on the Red Rocks. A fire broke out on the inside of the statue. The middle of the statue is hollow and the material packed in the middle core started burning.